Opinion

"France’s president came to Moscow after having a number of contacts with major leaders (France, the UK and the USA)," said Yury Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, noting earlier Hollande had paid a special visit to Washington.

"Hollande briefed President Putin on results of his talks in Washington," he said underscoring that Thursday’s talks of the two heads of state "were very intense, substantial and fruitful."

"In particular, remarks of the French foreign minister [Laurent Fabius] testify to this," he went on to say. "There is a recognition that eventually a ground operation that will help squeeze the terrorists really and finally out of Syria cannot be avoided but this operation should be conducted by the Syrians, above all else."